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“We have few if any reports where it’s clear that spread occured outdoors. We have examples of spread of the virus indoors, even in some very small gatherings,” he said.
So, while outdoor gatherings can expand, indoor gatherings remain limited to 25. Also, the city is not going to follow the state guidance that indoor dining can expand to 50% of a restaurant's capacity on Sept. 21, though Farley said if progress is continuing in October, it may allow the higher capacity then.
For now, it remains at 25%.
He emphasized rules about 6 feet of distance and mask-wearing apply to all activities, which means those larger outdoor gatherings should not include food or drinks.
That includes this weekend’s Eagles game.
“We recommend that people who watch the game do it just with members of your household,” he said.
The announcement comes six months exactly from the first COVID-19 case reported in Philadelphia.Farley said the city has come a long way.
New cases, hospitalizations and deaths have dropped by 90% and more since the peak in April.
But economically, the recovery has lagged.
Mayor Kenney said unemployment is 10 times what it was before the pandemic. Tourism set a record in 2019 but vanished in the spring.
To mark the six-month point, he issued a blueprint for revival.
“These long-term, large scale initiatives will help drive Philadelphia’s potential to become the most inclusive, liveable and thriving community in the country,” he said.